Title

Author

Date of Award

5-14-2014

Document Type

Thesis and Dissertation

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Department of Psychology: School Psychology

First Advisor

Karla J. Doepke

Abstract

Imitation, defined as a means by which individuals copy another person's behavior, serves as a natural method of learning for typically developing children (Sevlever & Gillis, 2010). For children with autism, imitation skills are often impaired, which may result in further social and language deficits (Ingersoll, 2008; Whiten & Brown, 1999). The current study directly examined the effectiveness of two imitation training interventions on the development of spontaneous imitation and expressive language skills in young children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders. Results indicated that no one intervention proved equally effective across participants; however, both interventions positively impacted expressive language development, as increases in expressive language skills were noted following both interventions. Several factors, including autism symptom severity and related social behavioral skill levels, may be explain the study's findings.